Seneca Falls and the Origins of the Women's Rights Movement

Pivotal Moments in American History

by Sally G. McMillen

In the quiet town of Seneca Falls, New York, over the course of two days in July, 1848, a small group of women and men, led by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott, held a convention that would launch the women's rights movement and change the course of history. In Seneca Falls and the Origins of the Women's Rights Movement , Sally McMillen reveals, for the first time, the full significance of that revolutionary convention and the enormous changes it produced. The book covers 50 years of women's activism, from 1840 to 1890, focusing on four extraordinary figures--Mott, Stanton, Lucy Stone, and Susan B. Anthony. McMillen tells the stories of their lives, how they came to take up the cause of women's rights, the astonishing advances they made during their lifetimes, and the far-reaching effects of the work they did. At the convention they asserted full equality with men, argued for greater legal rights, greater professional and education opportunities, and the right to
vote--ideas considered wildly radical at the time. Indeed, looking back at the convention two years later, Anthony called it "the grandest and greatest reform of all time."

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Feminism, Womens, Politics, American History, Historical

322 pages, Paperback

First published January 9, 2008

About the author

Sally G. McMillen is the Mary Reynolds Babcock Professor of History at Davidson College in North Carolina, where she has taught since 1988.

Reviews

[Porter Broyles · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very interesting over view of Women's Sufferage in the US.

The thing I found most interesting was the discussions on the two main groups in the US.

The American Women's Sufferage Association:

This group included men and women in the leadership positions. Believed that Sufferage should be approached piecemeal (state by state.). Supported the 15th Amendment even though it included the world 'male' and concerned itself almost exclusively to Women's Sufferage. (Lucy Stone was most prominent woman).

National Women's Sufferage Association:
Almost exclusively woman run, Founded by Elizabeth Candy Stanton and SusanB Anthony. Believed that a national amendment was the way to go, but state by state. Concerned itself with Sufferage AND other Women's Rights (birth control, divorce, contract law, employment, etc.)


Knowing about these two groups and they're differences is huge in American Sufferage.

[Christopher Saunders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sally G. McMillen's Seneca Falls and the Origins of the Women's Rights Movement provides a succinct, readable narrative of feminism's early stirrings in the United States. McMillen notes how the earliest women's rights advocates built upon a general atmosphere of reform, from religious liberty to abolition of slavery, that welled up in the early 1800s with which they formed a particularly contentious alliance: few considered women's rights an issue equal of slavery (or, indeed, the idea that women might deserve rights was even worth considering) until activists demonstrated that it was. The balance of the story focuses on Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, the two godmothers of Seneca Falls, though a wide variety of famous figures flit through the narrative: the abolitionist Grimke Sisters and the pioneering journalist Margaret Fuller; male abolitionists William Lloyd Garrison and Frederick Douglass, unusually outspoken that women's oppression deserved consideration alongside slavery; Black feminists Sojourner Truth and Ernestine Rose, who struggled to make their voices heard; later, the eccentric Victoria Woodhull and dogged Susan B. Anthony. The Falls Conference, McMillen demonstrates, laid a groundwork that the activists struggled to build upon; despite some initial success in the 1850s, the Civil War soon swallowed up the debate over women's rights. Attempts to re-form the movement after the war led to factional disputes among suffragists, arguments with abolitionist and Black allies about Reconstruction (Stanton's racially-charged sparring with Douglass being a particular low point) and a failed effort, in the 1860s, to pass a constitutional amendment granting woman's suffrage. Still, their activism and ideas paved the way for the final successful passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920 and remain a cornerstone of feminist thought today. Reading this book in 2022, amidst a concerted assault on women's rights, is both sobering (because we're fighting many of the same battles, almost two centuries later) and uplifting - because it shows that, despite resistance, determined women can succeed.

[Cynda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read with GR group Non Fiction Book Club in honor the the centennial of US Women's Suffrage.

Good book

* to gain overview of Suffrage movement from Seneca Falls Convention in 1848 to the holding out the torch to the next generation at the National American Women's Suffrage Association (NAWSA) in 1890.

* to review same period of Suffrage movement.

* to find a jumping off place for further study.

Note. In 1848 the privileged white women seeking suffrage fought for themselves. Gradually their hearts and minds allowed for inclusion. In 1890 the priviledged white women asked that the next generation remember to be more inclusive in their fight for suffrage.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book tells the story of the early American women's movement by focusing on the 1848 women's rights convention in Seneca Falls, New York, and on four women who played key roles in establishing and promoting women's rights and suffrage. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, Susan B. Anthony and Lucy Stone are featured in the book.

Since this book focuses on the active lives of four women, only one of whom lived to cast a ballot in a national election, it provides details of the women's rights movement only through 1890. It is well researched and includes 44 pages of notes.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It is about the first women's movement in the United States. I had to read it for one of my history classes and loved every minute of it. This movement in history is overshadowed by the Civil War and the events that followed the ending of the Civil War and the Emancipation. Though this book is a nonfiction book, I fell in love the women who fought for their rights and stood their ground in a time when women were considered property. Many believed these women should have been locked up in mental institutions (and many were) for having insane beliefs that women should be allowed to the right to vote. McMillen weaves a story that left me crying at the end of the book. I have recommended this book to several other women as I believe it is well worth the read.

[Dustin G. Longmire · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really fabulous grounding in the early years of the women’s rights movement.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seneca Falls and the Origins of the Women's Rights Movement is a thorough account and analysis of the convention that began to galvanize women to organize around suffrage, rights for divorce, and other issues that became the mainstay of the women's rights movement. This book focuses on the four women who became prominent as activists (Lucy Stone, Lucretia Mott, Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton). It details the lives of these women and how they tirelessly campaigned for women's rights. The author puts a very personal spin on the book so you really do get to know this cast of characters and see what they went through to achieve suffrage.

I have two big complaints as far as the book goes that cause the loss of 1 star. The book jumps around from the women's lives and gets very hard to follow in places because it is jumping around frequently between the four women (and others) so that you are not sure who she is talking about at some points. It usually resolved itself within a page or so but the transitions were weaker. The second complaint is with the context of this book in the series Pivotal Moments in American history. The series goal is to explore the major paradigm shifts that occurred in US history as a result of the event they are writing one. While obviously the right to vote for women changed the course of American history the author does not even attempt to articulate any of that or why this is a pivotal moment. One of the most enjoyable parts of the series is when they have the authors put it in that macro context and that was very lacking here. Not really a reason to deduct a star since the book stands alone but for those who are fans of the series will probably read more like a 3 star.

Overall a great start for those wanting to learn about women's rights and well worth the time.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a pretty decent overview of the issues facing women in the mid-19th century, and MacMillen does an excellent job of illustrating the context in which the Seneca Falls convention occurred. She also paints a vivid picture of the squabbles and in-fighting that characterized the movement in the late 19th century; one wonders if the franchise might have been secured earlier if only the movement's leaders had been applying their efforts to a unified cause instead of to competing with each other for followers.

Some elements of the book annoyed me, however. The editing is often sloppy, and why does she refer to the male leaders in the movement (Frederick Douglass, Wendell Phillips, etc.)by their last names, but insists on referencing the female leaders (Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, Lucy Stone, Susan B. Anthony, etc.) by their first names? Also, I craved a deeper look at the four women listed above; they do get the most ink, but so many other figures need to be included that the treatment of the "Big 4" is cursory at best.

Overall, however, this is a good introduction to the women's rights movement that is very readable and succinct.

[Lexi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Straight forward. Educational (I assume - I skimmed most of it). Dry.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book helped me to place many names into the history of the Women's Rights Movement, and the Abolitionist movement. I learned much about Susan B. Anthony, Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Stanton, and Lucy Stone. It has inspired me to research this time period in more detail, as it seems a pivotal time for the United States. Many people are mentioned in this book for further reading, such as Sojourner Truth and Abigail Scott Duniway. I would think it would be a good book to read and discuss in a college class on women's rights. It was a good pair with The Tall Woman, which was an excellent historical fiction book of this time period.

[Misha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! This was a very engaging, informative read! I was vaguely aware of the connections between the abolitionist movement and early women's rights activism, and also the division in the movement over black enfranchisement, but now I know so much more. Many important themes still relevant today.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It mostly boggles my mind that such an interesting topic can be written so boringly.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have assigned this for an undergraduate class on 19th Century women's rights and reforms. I thought it was solid, and will serve that purpose well.

[Audrey Barnard Mossberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enlightening and easily digestible book on the early women’s movement in the United States.

[Heidie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Might be better read instead of audio. A good overview of suffrage but lots of dates are thrown out.

[April Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a detailed but readable hostory

[Shaina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent history of important epoch.

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book. Informative. I didn't really like the writing style.

[Ali · Rating 2 out of 5]

oddly personal like how does she know someone’s “heart was in the right place.” ? hella white women centric. fuck that bitch named susan b. anthony :)

[Gps]

A good overview of the initial era of woman's suffrage, but the overall writing left a lot to be desired.

[SheReaders Book Club · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Great information on some of the prominent women in American history.

[Vincent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative and well written. A pleasure to read.

[Carolyn Fagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gives and excellent overview of the beginning of the women's rights movement and the main characters involved.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Historian Sally G. McMillen’s book entitled Seneca Falls and the Origins of the Women’s Rights Movement was published in 2008. The book is part of the Pivotal Moments in American History series. The book contains black-and-white illustrations. Sally G. McMillen’s book is an overview of the Women's Rights Movement in the United States between 1840 and 1900. The book focuses on four historical figures, Lucretia Mott (1793-1880), Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902), Lucy Stone (1818-1893), and Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906). Of course, many other historical figures appear in McMillian’s book. The book contains black-and-white photographs of many other historical figures involved in the women’s rights movement in this era. The book contains a section of notes along with a section of appendixes. Chapter 3 is on the Seneca Falls Convention in Seneca Falls in New York State in July 1848. McMillen writes that “this Convention was the first time so many Americans met in a public setting to discuss the radical idea of female equality” (McMillen 72). Mott and Stanton were important figures at the Seneca Falls Convention. In the Epilogue, McMillen gives a quick overview of the legacy of the 19th Century Women’s Rights Movement until the Nineteenth Amendment was added to the United States Constitution in August 1920 which gave “women the right to vote” (McMillen 236). I read the book on the Kindle. Sally G. McMillen’s book, Seneca Falls and the Origins and the Women’s Rights Movement was a well-done and readable book about the Women’s Rights Movement in the United States between 1840 and 1900.

[Andrea Dowd · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so excited to read a book about the Seneca Falls convention on women's rights in 1848. Instead, I got a primer on the history of women's rights movement in the U.S. There is a short chapter on the convention but even half of that chapter has little to do with the actual convention. Misleading nonfiction titles annoy me. With as many people who attended the convention and the number of very literate and well written women who attended, you would think McMillen could take more first hand accounts and create a much more fleshed-out version of this book.

Long story short, if you want to read about the history of women's rights in the U.S., this would not be a bad place to start. If you're more read up on women's rights, you probably are better off reading something else.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very interesting book. It's the story of the organizers of the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848 and the effects of that gathering. The book focuses on the lives of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucy Stone but also covers Lucretia Mott and Susan B. Anthony. The issues were complex, involving much more than the franchise. Marriage status and property rights as well as career and education opportunities were almost more important. The meeting of such women, their lives and the reception of the ideas is fascinating.

[Nathan · Rating 2 out of 5]

A deft historical narrative that is also an inspiring testament to the power of self-mobilization and grassroots activism. Most of the information can be found in your average college history textbook, and the book often reads like one, but this is a well-meaning and hopeful read. The meeting of the title is granted only the briefest of treatments, but the scope is compact yet broad enough to give a general view. There are probably better books out there, but there are certainly worse.

[Dannika · Rating 2 out of 5]

If it wasn't for my book club I would never have picked up this book. It was written by a history professor and it's not the leisure reading that I enjoy doing. The reason I give it two stars instead of one is because there is a lot of factual historical information and you can tell that it's well researched. Overall I didn't finish reading it. It was just too dense of material for summer reading for me.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 2013 as we seeks gun restrictions, still struggle for same-sex marriage to be accepted and many other critical issues, it has been interesting to read of the struggles of those who sought to give women the right to vote. It won't encourage your enthusiasm for the politicians of either era but may make us realize patience has been necessary before.
The book needed another editing and could have been shorter but you do get a solid view of the four women who led the fight.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very detailed and insightful telling of the women's rights movement that gained ground at The Seneca Falls Convention. McMillen guides the story with ease and digs into the positives and negatives that followed the journey. Although these strong, fearless and determined women never saw the vote happen (all except one), it can be said that they would be pleased with this honest book.